While Kelvin Tyler was pleased to take out the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) with Aberlour (NZ) (Mongolian Falcon) at Ascot Park earlier this month, the Riverton trainer was left scratching his head after stablemate Lady Sass (NZ) (Staphanos) refused to jump from the gates and took no part in the race.
She was duly required to participate in a barrier trial to the satisfaction of the stewards, which she carried out with aplomb earlier this week, and Tyler is hoping she can replicate those manners in Saturday’s Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui.
“She went to the jumpouts on Monday and did the opposite (of her last start), so hopefully she does that again,” Tyler said.
“I can’t fault her at all, she is as fresh as a daisy. If she gets away with them, she will go a good race.”
While frustrated with Lady Sass’s barrier manners last start, Tyler said he wasn’t particularly surprised, and said the quirky filly well and truly lives up to her name.
“She has got a bag of tricks, she has had them since she was a foal,” he said. “We have changed a bit of gear on her – put the ear covers and side winkers on – and she flew the gate on Monday.”
Tyler has always had plenty of time for Lady Sass, campaigning the daughter of Staphanos in the north over the last couple of months where she ran fourth in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), fifth in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), and 11th in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m).
“There is not much between her and Aberlour,” Tyler said. “They are both high quality horses and the way she was racing up in the North Island in those Group Ones, she will be competitive on Saturday.”
Tyler is also looking forward to Lady Sass’s younger sister More Sass (NZ) (Mongolian Falcon) making her debut in the Dakota Boutique + Lifestyle (820m).
More Sass is another daughter of Mongolian Falcon, and Tyler said she has inherited her sister’s quirky nature.
“She is a half to Lady Sass and she has got the same kind of attitude,” he said. “She is quite fast, but she is going to be a bit green as she has only had one jumpout and she has drawn out a bit.
“I am just hoping she does everything right, which she seems to do here. She is a bit faster out of the gates than her older sister normally. She will go a good cheeky race, but she is still quite green.”
Stablemate Mamaea (NZ) (Ribchester) will also make her debut in the same race, having trialled at Ruakaka last year for part-owners Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, and Kerri Spence Bloodstock, who secured a slot in the NZB Kiwi (1500m) earlier this week.
“She came down from Shaun and Emma Clotworthy’s stable. She had a trial up north and she has progressed quite nicely, but she has drawn 11 of 11, so over 800m it is going to be a bit tough for her,” Tyler said. “If she settles nicely and runs on it will be a good starting point for her.”
